Signature Experiences

Safari Drives

Twice daily safaris are conducted by expert naturalists in specially designed 4X4 vehicles with theatre style seating. Morning safaris start shortly after sunrise. Along with the thrill of tiger tracking is a memorable stop for a picnic breakfast complete with freshly plunged coffee and an assortment of teas. Afternoon safaris last a couple of hours and end at sunset. Bandhavgarh, with one of the highest tiger densities in the country makes for a safari with plenty of action. Guests are kept enthralled as the professionally trained naturalists interpret the jungle calls and read tracks of animals. A big predator on the move makes animals like deer and monkeys sound a warning, resulting in the jungle resounding with various alarm calls. These calls are then used by the naturalist to anticipate movements of the predator. Guests also learn to identify melodious bird song, like those of the Asian Koel, Magpie Robin and the Coppersmith Barbet. However, an unforgettable animal sound that stays long after the safari is done is the deep roar of a tiger either marking territory or calling for a mate. History buffs will delight in a visit to Shesh shaiyya to see the statue of Lord Vishnu and the ancient caves at BadiGufa.

Nature Trails

A Nature Trail is ideal for adventurers looking for a closer communion with nature. Be it the nature trails offered in the buffer zone of the park or a leisurely nature walk, it is an opportunity to get acquainted with the smaller creatures. Butterflies, dung beetles scurrying about and multitudes of wildflowers are a few of the many delights best discovered on foot. At Mahua Kothi, the naturalists tailor-make the walk to showcase a combination of dense forest, grasslands and water bodies. Guests file past fields of the white tipped ‘Kans’ grass swaying in the breeze onto a pond to see one of the smallest ducks in the world – the Little Grebe. During Mahua season or around fruiting fig trees, numerous animals like deer, monkeys, squirrels and birds can be seen vying for the sweet treats. Skilful storytelling enraptures guests in the life cycle of a Giant Wood spider as they marvel at the engineering feat of one of the oldest web designs in the world. At the end of the walk, guests are able to identify numerous bird calls, have an understanding of many plants and their uses for animals and humans alike.

Village visit

Rural areas around National parks are dotted with picturesque villages and farms. It is a way of life still untouched in many ways. Guests at Mahua Kothi have the option of visiting one of several villages, with popular ones being Rancha and Dobha. These villages are located on the periphery of the national park where farming is still practised in age old methods with simple tools and remarkable ingenuity. Tribes like Baiga, Gond and Kol among others, live in single storey houses with cow dung plastered open courtyards. It is wonderful to walk down the quiet lanes besides houses with tiled roofs overrun with pumpkin and bitter gourd vines. Most of the tribes in the region were once hunter gatherers, who are now adapting to modern life. Many find work as trackers and guards in the national park owing to their understanding of nature and animal behaviour.

Stargazing

The Taj Safari lodge in Mahua Kothi is located in pristine jungle environments, where guests have the luxury of viewing a vast expanse of very starry skies. After a day of adventure and excitement in the jungle, watching the brilliant night sky is a very relaxing activity. The constant North Star and the Milky Way are especially exciting to young guests. Listen to interesting trivia and stories as naturalists acquaint you to the life of the night sky.

Junior Naturalist Program

For the adventurous youngsters with a love for all things wild, our Budding Naturalist programme is an interactive curriculum. Usually spanning three to four days, the program can be tweaked depending on the duration of stay. From early morning nature walks and safari drives to late evening ‘frogging’ and star gazing sessions, this program covers as many aspects of the wild to get the young brigade on the go early on. At the end of the programme, the children go back with a new appreciation of the natural world, a certificate, a plethora of adventure stories and a feather in their hats.